MIRAMICHI – The Grand Falls Rapids won their second game of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Miramichi Timberwolves by a score of 6-5. Greg Leland’s squad now has a record of 2 wins and 4 losses to open up the 2024-2025 regular season.
Jonah Leard scored the game winning goal at 4:56 of the third period, breaking a 5-5 tie. It was Leard’s second tally of the game. He finished with 2g and 2a, so did Caleb MacDonald who scored his first two goals as a Rapid. Cole MacWilliam and Brayden Campbell completed the scoring for Grand Falls who shot 34 times on the opposing net.
Caleb MacDonald gave the Rapids an early leadat 1:46 of the first period following a backhand shot that beat Timberwolves’ goalkeeper Mathis Lafontaine.
Then came three goals in a span of one minute close to the mid-way mark of the period. Jerome Gilbert and Zachary Duguay had given Miramichi a 2-1 lead before MacDonald would add his second to tie the game for the visitors.
Will Allen sent the Timberwolves ahead 3-2 at 4:17 of the second period, but the Rapids replied with two goals to take a 4-3 lead. Cole MacWilliam scored at 6:10, followed by a great individual effort by Brayden Campbell who came down the wing with speed, adding his 4th of the season.
Four goals were scored in the final period of play, all coming before reaching the 5-minute mark of the frame.
Jonah Leard scored his first of the game at 1:57 on a power play for Grand Falls. Miramichi came back 22 seconds later to cut the lead to one (Justin David) before tying the score 5-5 with the man advantage at 4:15 on Jayden Burt-Munn’s second of the season.
Leard would then add his second of the contest and the game winner only 41 seconds later on a quick shot from the side of the crease.
Miramichi outshot the Rapids 40 to 34. Adam Lecours picked up the win between the pipes, his second of the season.
Jeremy D’Astous also contributed offensively with 3 assists while Justin David led the way for Miramichi with 1g 2a.
The Rapids will travel to Nova Scotia next weekend to play Valley on Friday and Yarmouth the following night.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Jonah Leard (GFR); 2- Justin David (MIR); 3- Caleb MacDonald (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
|
1st |
|
|
|
|
1:46 |
GFR |
Caleb MacDonald (1) ASST: Jonah Leard (1), Jeremy D’Astous (2) |
|
|
8:18 |
MIR |
Jerome Gilbert (3) ASST: Justin David (5), Luke Orr (3) |
|
|
8:51 |
MIR |
Zachary Duguay (1) ASST: Caleb Van De Ven (6) |
|
|
9:18 |
GFR |
Caleb MacDonald (2) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (3), Jonah Leard (2) |
|
|
2nd |
|
|
|
|
4:17 |
MIR |
Will Allen (3) ASST: Bates Ling (2), Olivier Guignard (1) |
|
|
6:10 |
GFR |
Cole MacWilliam (1) ASST: Patrick Baxter (2), Raphael Denis (2) |
|
|
13:19 |
GFR |
Brayden Campbell (4) ASST: Nathan Rhodes (1) |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
|
|
1:57 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (5) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (4), Caleb MacDonald (2) (PP) |
|
|
2:19 |
MIR |
Justin David (4) ASST: Jerome Gilbert (6) |
|
|
4:15 |
MIR |
Jayden Burtt-Munn (2) ASST: Caleb Van De Ven (7), Justin David (6) (PP) |
|
|
4:56 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (6) ASST: Marco Leblanc (1), Caleb MacDonald (3) |